Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 5, 2014

Obama Set to Introduce Carter as Nominee for Defense Secretary -- Bloomberg

The pick won’t bring the independent political power base of his three immediate predecessors, reflecting the president's determination to maintain tight White House control over military matters.

Dec. 5 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama plans to name today his fourth defense secretary, who officials say will be Ashton Carter, a seasoned Pentagon official expert in budgeting and weapons systems who would take over as the military confronts Islamic State extremists amid spending restraints.

Carter, 60, spent more than two years as the Defense Department’s No. 2 civilian leader under former Secretary Leon Panetta and then Chuck Hagel, the current defense secretary. He also served under Obama’s first Pentagon chief, Robert Gates, as the military’s top weapons buyer.

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 5, 2014

Obama picks former Pentagon official Ashton Carter to be Defense secretary -- FOX News

White House: Obama to nominate Ash Carter to lead Defense -- CNN

Chuck Hagel Explains Why He Resigned as Secretary of Defense -- US News and World Report

Boost development of modern weapons: Xi Jinping to China's PLA -- Economic Times

Report: Chinese Air Force Closes Gap With U.S. -- Defense Tech

Inside the Ring: China: A Cyberwarring State -- Washington Free Beacon

North Korea Has An Elite Group Of Military Hackers Who Carry Out Cyber Warfare -- Business insider/Reuters

Western Ministers Urge NATO to Rebuild Military Contacts With Russia -- WSJ

France taking no steps for Mistral's delivery to Russia — French defense minister -- ITAR-TASS

No Deal? France Says it Might Never Deliver Mistral Ships to Russia -- Sputnik

Lavrov: France 'Must Fulfill Obligations' Over Warship Delivery -- Defense News/AFP

Putin: ‘No One Will Succeed In Defeating Russia Militarily’ -- CBS/AP

West behind falling ruble, oil prices - Russian spy chief -- RT

Russian destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov enters Syrian port - ITAR-TASS

Russia’s Navy to be Fully Modernized by 2050, Get Next-Generation Warships -- Sputnik

Russia’s fifth-generation fighter jet to make maiden flight in 2017 -- ITAR-TASS

Russia to start new military hardware trials in Arctic on December 8 -- ITAR-TASS

Russian Navy Improvements Raise Concerns in US Congress -- Sputnik

Face to Face with Europe’s Military Cadets -- Time

Canada’s decision to withdraw from AWACS program causes problems for NATO -- Ottawa Citizen

4,350 Israelis have evaded military service -- Middle East Monitor

Corker: US military was poised to launch 10-hour attack on Syria -- The Hill

Lack of coordination among local forces remains 'biggest hurdle' to Afghan security -- Deutsche Welle

US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan practically completed — commander -- ITAR-TASS

Nigerian Military Training Cancellation Baffles US Experts -- VOA

US troops fighting Ebola peak at 2,900 -- The Hill

Lawmakers Agree to Block Retirement of A-10 Fleet -- DoD Buzz

House Passes US Coast Guard Bill -- Defense News

US Congress passes $585B defense bill -- The Hill

Congress Places Potential Freeze on LCS Construction -- Defense Tech

Congress Pushes to Keep an 11 Carrier Navy in Budget Agreement -- DoD Buzz

The Navy's Smart New Stealth Anti-Ship Missile Can Plan Its Own Attack -- Jalopnik

Forbes: Congress Must Fund Ohio Replacement Program, Increase Fleet Size -- DoD Buzz

Reported US military sex assaults rise -- BBC

Almost 6,000 military employees reported sexual assault last year - Pentagon -- RT

U.S. Navy strips Bill Cosby of honorary title amid rape allegations -- Daily Mail

Study Reveals Mental Cues, Conditions That Affect Performance -- Defense News

Grassley: CIA ‘bungled’ report on 'Zero Dark Thirty' -- The Hill